East Providence High School starts boys’ indoor track season

EAST PROVIDENCE — A hopeful group of East Providence High School boys’ indoor track and field performers begins its 2012-13 Metropolitan Division regular season dual meet slate this week, the Townies seeking to once again be in the fray for a top-tier finish come the class and state championship meets at the end of the winter.

Josh Rambert (left) is expected to be among the top performers this winter for the East Providence High School boys’ indoor track and field squad.

East Providence went 5-4 in Metro duals a year ago, good for a three-way share of fourth place in the always-testing division of teams that includes perennial powers the likes of defending champ Classical, LaSalle, Barrington, Hope and Central.

The Townies scored 32 points to place sixth out of 11 teams in the Class A Meet, won once again Hendricken. The Hawks had won the previous 17 state titles until Chariho nipped them for last year’s championship. E.P. scored two points in the state meet. Chris Moura netted the Townies’ points with his fifth-place distance of 21’ 4.5” inches in the long jump.

“I think we could win the division, I honestly do, if our stud guys perform to their capabilities,” said veteran EPHS head coach Bob Lyons. “And if the points splinter the right way at states, I think we can finish top three. If we could do that, I would be very pleased with the season.”

Moura, now a senior, is one of the athletes expected to improve his results of a year ago and afford East Providence the chance to climb the ladder during both regular and postseason meets.

Moura is also a sprinter, running a leg of the Townies’ 4×200-meter relay along with classmate Josh Rambert and junior Ryan Williams. Rambert can also vie individually in the 55-meter dash and hurdles, the 300, the 600, the high jump and the long jump. Williams runs the 55 dash and the 300.

“We need those three guys to come through for us. Right now, it looks like it’s between Chris and the Coventry kid (Lawrence Warwick) in the long jump. I’m hoping Ryan is motivated after not qualifying for the final in the dash last year,” Coach Lyons said. “And I don’t know what it was, but something just clicked with Rambo (Rambert). He’s looking like an elite athlete, potentially one of the best track athlete in the state right now.”

Sophomore Justin Pelletier participates in the relay, the high jump and the hurdles, where he was the freshmen state champ a year ago. Among the other sprinters and potential relay runners on the team this winter are junior Reggie Bracewell, senior Josh Roderick and junior Jasiah Hatch. Four freshmen — Justin Johnson, Brett Dailey, Jayden Chase and Charles Hazzard — are also expected to be in the mix.

“We have a lot of good young kids on the team and some of the kids back have worked really hard to improve in their events. They’re also nice kids, a good group. I’m happy with where we are as we start the season,” Coach Lyons added.

East Providence participates in its Metro opener Monday night, Dec. 10, at 5:30 against LaSalle and Barrington at the Providence Career & Tech Academy field house, where all indoor meets, including states, take place.